On July 19th, 2023, Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agents, with assistance from the Eureka Police Department and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, served a search warrant at the residence of Justin Lee ZWIEFELHOFER (age 40) located in the 2900 block of Mack Road in Arcata. The Humboldt County Drug Task Force received information that ZWIEFELHOFER was trafficking narcotics and firearms throughout Humboldt County.
Upon arrival at ZWIEFELHOFER’s residence, Agents located and detained ZWIEFELHOFER and Chloe WELLS (age 22) without incident. Once the scene was secure, Agents searched the residence and located two firearms, a useable amount of cocaine, scales, packaging materials and indicia of drug sales.
ZWIEFELHOFER advised Agents that he possessed a storage unit in McKinleyville which also contained firearms. Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agents obtained a second search warrant for the storage unit and located seven firearms including an assault weapon, a high capacity magazine and a short barreled rifle.
Justin ZWIEFELHOFER was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked on the following charges:
- HS11370.1(A)- Possession of a controlled substance while armed
- PC32310- Possession of a high-capacity magazine
- PC30605(A)- Possession of an assault weapon
- PC33215- Possession of a short-barreled rifle
Chloe WELLS was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where she was booked for HS11370.1(A)- Possession of a controlled substance while armed.
Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.
Joseph Zwiefelhofer Booking Photo | Humboldt County Correctional Facility | Firearms seized during search warrant |